What We Believe 

The worship and teaching of St. Luke’s is rooted in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of the Episcopal Church. Anglo-Catholicism grew out of the Oxford Movement in England during the 1830s and 1840s and focuses on promoting and strengthening Catholic theology, liturgy, and devotional life within Episcopal parishes. Among Episcopalians, this tradition is sometimes known as “High Church.”

The Episcopal Church is firmly dedicated to charity, service, and ministry to those on the margins of society.

Our worship and teaching are rooted in:

A HIGH VIEW OF GOD: We believe in one living, true, and eternal God, creator and sustainer of all that is seen and unseen, infinite in wisdom, compassion, beauty and goodness. Christian tradition reveals the Divine nature to us as the loving unity and co-equality of three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

A HIGH VIEW OF CHRIST: We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, whose life and teachings manifest the fullness of God's glory. By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary and took on our human nature. By his death and resurrection, he set us free from sin and calls us to new life in his Kingdom.

A HIGH VIEW OF THE CREATION: We believe in the goodness of God’s creation. In worship, we celebrate creation with speech, song, silence, art, flowers, and incense—and offer it back to God with grateful praise.

A HIGH VIEW OF THE CHURCH: We believe that the Church is part of the risen Christ and is illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Our spirituality and worship is communal, and we acknowledge our own imperfections and inconsistencies, and those of our fellow human beings, as we open ourselves to God’s grace and mercy.

A HIGH VIEW OF THE SACRAMENTS: We believe that sacraments, outward and physical signs of inward and spiritual grace, are an important part of our life in Christ. They enable us to give our lives to God and to our neighbor in faith, hope, and love. In the sacraments of the Church, we learn to see a reflection of God’s loving purpose in every created thing.

A HIGH VIEW OF THE SCRIPTURES: We believe that the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God, calling us into deeper contemplation of the mysteries of God, and revealing God’s presence in creation and in history. In worship we read, sing, and pray the Scriptures, studying them with the guidance of reason and Christian tradition.

A HIGH VIEW OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS: We believe in the communion of saints and the mystical fellowship of all faithful people. We pray for those who are no longer with us, and we ask friends, family, neighbors, saints, and angels to pray for us as well. Through prayer, we are connected by love to the fellowship of the whole Church in heaven and on earth.

A HIGH VIEW OF WORSHIP: We believe in the substance, beauty, and power of traditional Christian liturgy, as handed down to us in the Book of Common Prayer. We joyfully participate in a long tradition of worship that continues the life of the ancient and undivided Church.  

A HIGH VIEW OF SERVICE: We believe that Christian faith is always ordered to love, and that God’s grace transforms us: body, soul, and spirit. Inspired by the Oxford Movement’s care for the poor and marginalized, we strive to offer service, to work for justice and peace among all peoples, and to empower those that are neglected or forgotten by society.

If you have any questions or want more information, please get in touch with a staff member, or contact us.